The Celebration of the Gospel
December 25, 2016 —Christmas Day
The Word was made flesh, and lived among us.
— John 1.14
________We Gather as the Body of Christ______
GREETING
PRELUDE Wexford Carol Traditional Irish Carol, arr: Mark Hayes
[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies,
listen for our hearts’ deepest desires,
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.]
* CALL TO WORSHIP from John 1.14-18
Leader: In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was in God’s presence, and the Word was God.
All: In the Word was life, and the life was the light of all people.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us,
and we have seen the glory of the Word,
the delight and attention given an only child,
full of grace, full of truth.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.
* SONG Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Blue hymnal # 240 vv. 1-2
CHILDREN’S TIME
_____________We Attend to the Word_________
SONG Away in a Manger Arr. Robert DeCormier
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Loving God, in the birth of Jesus you have given yourself to us. May your love be born in our hearts and your light shine in our eyes. By your image in us and your grace in us and your presence in us, may others experience your presence and trust your love.
OLD TESTAMENT Isaiah 52.7-10
[A vision celebrating the good news that God has come to us: the “return of Yahweh to Zion.”
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news, who announces salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices,
together they sing for joy;
for in plain sight they see
the return of Yahweh to Zion.
Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem;
for Yahweh has comforted us,
God has redeemed Jerusalem.
Yahweh has acted strongly among the nations;
and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
+
* SONG Angels from the Realms of Glory Blue hymnal # 220 vv. 1-2
GOSPEL John 1.1-14
[John proclaims the great news of the Incarnation: the Word is made flesh. The Word (“logos” in Greek), is the organizing energy, the “logic” of all Creation. The Word is God’s love, which is a creative, life-giving force, and the ultimate source and meaning of all creation. God speaks that Word to God’s beloved people, particularly in the person of Christ—both the eternal person of the Holy Trinity, and the earthly incarnation of Christ, Jesus of Nazareth]
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The Word was present to God from the beginning.
Through the Word all things came into being;
and nothing that has come into being
came into being apart from the Word.
In the Word was life, and the life was the light of all people.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.
The true light, which enlightens everyone,
was coming into the world, and was in the world;
and yet though the world came into being through the Word,
the world did not know that.
The Word came as one comes to one’s own people,
but they were not accepting.
But all who do receive, who trust in that Name,
are given power to become children of God,
born, not of natural descent or desires or of human will at all,
but born of God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us,
and we have seen the glory of the Word,
the delight and attention given an only child,
full of grace, full of truth.
From this One’s fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
No one has ever seen God.
It is the Only Begotten, who is close to God’s heart,
who has made God known.
+
SERMON
SONG The Snow Lay on the Ground Black hymnal # 2093
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
Our Mother, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
SONG He Is Born Blue Hymnal # 228
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
______ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World_____
OFFERING OUR GIFTS What Child Is This? Old English Melody, arr: Mark Hayes
* OFFERING SONG In the Bleak Midwinter Blue hymnal #221
* PRAYER
Gracious God, you are with us in the flesh. In gratitude for your presence and your grace, we give of ourselves, to make your love real in the world. And so we give you these gifts as symbols of our lives. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will, for the sake of the healing of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Cold December Flies Away Blue hymnal #233
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We stand and sing to our neighbors:
Now Christ has been born, my dear friends, in your heart.
The child will stay with you and never depart.
So go in God’s peace, with God’s light from above
to guard you and guide you to live in God’s love.
POSTLUDE He Is Born, The Holy Child French Carol, arr: Alice Jordan